News
Australia axes global ‘do not fly’ warnings
October 28th 2021
Australia has removed its global “do not fly” warnings in place for more than 18 months in favour of updated country specific advice, solving a problem for locals seeking insurance for overseas travel. Read More » The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) began updating travel advisories today with many Asian nations downgraded from Level 4 “do not travel” to Level 2 “exercise a high degree of caution” or Level 3 “reconsider your need to travel”. This is important for travellers to destinations such as Singapore and Thailand, where travel insurance is compulsory but generally unavailable in Australia for countries with a Level 4 advisory. Australian Foreign Affairs Minister, Marise Payne, said the updated advice will allow Australians planning to travel overseas to assess risks, understand requirements and prepare to travel safely. Fully vaccinated Australians can journey overseas without an exemption from November 1, but Payne warned border settings and quarantine requirements in other countries continued to change. “Australians also will need to consider the requirements of airlines, transit and destination countries and return arrangements to Australia in making decisions on when and where to travel abroad,’’ she said. “Many of these requirements are subject to change at short notice given COVID-19 situations.” Australia’s smarttraveller.gov.au website lists China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan among Asian countries now deemed to be level 2. Countries at Level 3 include the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. A “do not travel” warning still applies to Myanmar due to that country’s unrest.
